Automatic sprinkler



R. W. NEWTON. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, I920.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

WW MM %%EFY:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WILKINSON N WTON, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

AUTOMA IC sPEIN LER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4,1921.

Application filed April 29, 1920. Serial No. 377,620.

structed, the valve support and releasing device usually consists of a plurality of parts held together by solder. In case of a fire the solder melts and the parts of the valve support and releasing device disintegrate, thereby opening the valve and allowing the water to-fiow through the sprinkler. In practice it has been found impossible to produce a solder for this purpose, that will always melt at an exact predetermined temperature; consequently such automatic sprinklers, under fire conditions, will go off anywhere from fiftyseconds to two minutes or more later than the time they are set to go off.

The obiect of my invention is to improve the construction and operation of automatic sprinklers. whereby such sprinklers will open or go off, under fire conditions, at an exact predeterminedtemperature. I

My invention consists-in the peculiar and novel construction and operation'of an automatic sprinkler and more particularly in the construction and operation of a valve support and releasing device for automatic sprinklers, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter and claimed.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved sprinkler.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1. p

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the valve support and releasing device, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the valve support and releasing device and showing the electrical system and connections. V

In the drawing 5 indicates an automatic sprinkler body and 6 my improved electrically operated valve support andreleasing device. 7

The sprinkler body-5has a screw-threaded tubular shank 7, arms 8-8 curving to a hub 9, screw 10 screw-threaded through the hub 9 and deflector 11 on the hub. Guard bars 1212 are secured-at each end to, at each side of and extend lengthwise of the-body 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A valve head 13 normally closes the valve seat 14, the

valve head 13 having a central depression 15 and the screw 10 having a cone shaped inner'end 16, as shown in Fig. 2.

My improved valve support and releasing device 6 consists of a tube 17 having a closed cone-shaped end 18, a screw-threaded end 19 closed by a screw-cap 20 having a depression 21 in its top for the cone-shaped inner end 16 of the screw 10. In the tube 17 is an explosive substance 22 or an expansible substance and preferably a detonator 23. The tube 17 is preferably of glass and to this tube is formed integral therewith a glass indicating thermometer 24 having the usual column of mercury 26 and Fahrenheit scale 27. As the tube 17 and thermometer 24 are of glass, the indicating scale 27 may be used as a thermometer scale, as a scale by which the amount of explosive substance in the tube 17 maybe accurately gaged, and also the expansion of the said explosive substance may be gaged by the scale. A wire 28 is electrically connected to the detonator 23, it extends through the cap 20 and is then connected to a source of electrical energy, as indicated at 29. A wire 30 extends from the source of electrical energy 29 to and through the thermometer 24 into the mercury 26, and a wire 31 is electrically connected to the detonator 23, and extends through the cap 20 and then down through the top of the thermometer 24 into the thermometer which now acts as an automatic electrical switch. The end 32 of the wire may extend down to any degree of temperature required, say 155 degrees Fahrenheit, as shown in Fig. 3. The end 18 of the tube 17 enters the depression 15 in the valve head 13 and the end 16 of the screw 10 enters the depression 21 in the cap 20. By tightening the screw 10 the valve head 13 is firmly secured in place.

When the sprinkler is in use under fire conditions and the heat of the fire has reached, say 155 degrees at the sprinkler, the end of the mercury: 26, rising in the thermometer, will touch the end 32' of the wire 31, thereby closing the circuit. The explosive substance 22 will then instantly explode, destroying the tube 17, releasing the valve head 13 and causing the sprinkler to open instantly at 155 degrees of temperature. By varying the position of the end 32 of the Wire 31, in the thermometer, the sprinkler may be caused to open instantly at any degree of temperature desired.

Although I have shown and have the right to use a well known simple electric system for operating my improved sprinkler, in the same. way that such an .electric system may be used foroperating a burglar alarm, I do not claim the electric system per 86. It .is evident that any form of a thermometer or expansive element could be used on the sprinkler as an automatic switch, and details of construction could be varied to accomplish practically the same result; also 7 breakable material and interposed intermediate the valve seat and the frame hub, said holder havin scales to record the amount and expansion of the material in the holder.

' 2. An automatic sprinkler having a holder in the form of a hollow glass strut inter for the purpose, as described. 1

4. The combination with an. automatic sprinkler of a thermometer in strut formation and interposed intermediate the valve seat and the frame hub of the sprinkler.

5. The combination with an automatic sprinkler of a thermometer in strut formation and interposed between the valve head and the frame. hub of the sprinkler and an electric attachment on the thermometerstrut formation.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. ROBERT WILKINSON NEWTON. 

